Vermont delegation calls for strict environmental review of tar sands

Mar. 4, 2013

A warning sign stands on Reed Olson's land in Barton. Olson, a veggie farmer who works four acres of land over the pipeline, opposes transport of tar sands via the pipe. More than 20 Vermont communities will consider resolutions on Town Meeting Day. / MADDIE MCGARVEY/FREE PRESS

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Free Press Staff Writer

All three members of Vermont’s congressional delegation are asking the federal government to require a strict environmental review should the owner of a New England oil pipeline seek to transport Canadian tar sands oil through its infrastructure in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

The request was made in a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry dated Feb. 26 and signed by 18 members of Congress, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., U.S. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt.

The letter asked that the State Department require a Presidential Permit and conduct a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement should the company that owns the Portland Montreal Pipe Line decide to move tar sands oil. About 59 miles of the 236-mile pipeline corridor cuts through Vermont on its way from South Portland, Maine to Montreal.

“Many of our constituents have significant concerns about the environmental and economic impacts a tar sands pipeline could pose to the region,” the letter read. “They question whether the transportation of Canadian tar sands through our communities for export would be in the United States’ national interests.”

A pipeline spill could threaten pristine waterways and drinking water supplies, the letter said. Oil tankers carrying tar sands could threaten fisheries along the Atlantic Coast, it added.

Currently the company pumps conventional crude oil east to west through the corridor, which has been in place since 1941. The Vermont section runs through Northeast Kingdom towns including Barton, Island Pond and Sutton.

Company officials have no active plan but say they are interested in reversing the flow and pumping tar sands west to east if market conditions allow. In order for this to be feasible, oil companies would have to patch together a system of pipeline from the tar sands reserves in Alberta in Western Canada to Montreal.

The environmental group 350 Vermont is coordinating a Keep Vermont Tar Sands Free campaign. More than 20 Vermont communities will consider resolutions on Town Meeting Day.

Larry Wilson, president of the Portland Pipe Line Corporation, did not respond to messages seeking comment but did send a statement.

“Portland Pipe Line Corporation (PPLC) respects the right of the members of Congress to express their concerns and suggestions related to the operations of our company; however, we respectfully disagree with their requests to the State Department.”

The company has an excellent safety record and pipeline transport of oil makes sense, Wilson added. “Pipelines continue to be recognized as the safest, most environmentally sound, most reliable and efficient means of transporting energy supplies. It is our desire to continue providing these services in support of the energy needs of the United States and our vitally important neighbor and trading partner Canada for many decades to come.”